Portland still in running for debate

As national committee mulls decision, 3 of 19 cities out of contention

By Nick Budnick

The Portland Tribune, Nov 9, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

Whether Portland hosts a presidential or vice-presidential debate next year remains a topic of debate — since the Commission on Presidential Debates has extended indefinitely its scheduled decision.

“We’re working away like crazy,” said Janet Brown, the commission’s executive director. “I don’t know when we’ll be announcing this. I hope it will be soon.”

Though an announcement had been expected by the end of October, the delay is not necessarily bad news for boosters of Portland’s debate bid. That’s because, according to Brown, three of the 19 cities that originally submitted bids have dropped out.

“We put our odds at somewhere between one out of three and one out of two,” said Mark Kirchmeier of the Oregon-Washington Presidential Debate Committee, which includes local dignitaries as well as representatives of Portland’s would-be co-host, Clark College of Vancouver, Wash.

He said the would-be sponsors of a Portland debate are fully engaged in the bid. “We’re not doing this as a civic exercise,” he said. “We’re in this competition to win.”

One interesting development: Of the current 16 potential cities, only two are in the West — Portland and Spokane, Wash.

If the commission decides it wants a debate in the western U.S., that would help Portland. However, doing so also could pose a logistical consideration.

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